1. Minutes of previous meeting and matters arisingAction There being no matters arising, approval of the minutes of the
previous
meeting as a true and accurate record was proposed by Mrs. M.
Hickson and
seconded by Mr. C. Williamson. This was approved as such.

3. Edzell 'static' skips Is progressing well - an EVIS meeting on this subject was held
recently and
was very well attended.
All at ~ meeting thought EVIS had handled the skip situation
-extremely well
Secretary and the Secretary was asked to write to EVIS to congratulate
them on what
they had achieved.
A short discussion on the letter on this subject, from Mrs.
Lesley Smith, in
10.05.01 edition of The Brechiner. In her letter, she mentioned
that "Edzell
Community Council" was to take over the management of the skip'.
The
Secretary is to write to her advising that it is the EVIS rather
than the
Secretary Community Council who will be managing the skip site.

Other matters discussed
* The plans to introduce a charge £7 for removing / uplifting
bulky
household items was thought to be unjustified.
* There is some uncertainty about what charges are applied for council
dumps. One person had been told that anyone using a tractor would not
be
charged, whilst there would be a charge if a van was used. Cllr. Myles
Cllr. Mylesagreed to check into this.
* There are no bins at Pirnie Brig.
* It was asked who was responsible for emptying the bins (not
Wheelie bins)
at Tarfside Play Park. It's believed this should be Angus Council.
* Still some discussion within Angus Council about whether they
should be
going up farm roads I tracks to empty the bins (FMD issue). At present
the
bins have to be brought down to the road end.

4. Police Matters

The return of Constable Thomas to Edzell continues to be very well received
throughout the area. This is seen as a very positive move towards reducing
the
problems of vandalism that have been of such concern over recent months.

Some discussion on the move of the call centre from Forfar to Dundee.
This is
considered a necessary step to improve the present situation, which
many
believe to be unacceptable. Not all are (yet) convinced that this will
be the
solution. Inspector Scobbie reminded the meeting of the need to give
accurate
details about the incident and what action is required when calling
the police.
In addition, some indication of the priority (urgency) of the police
response
would also be of considerable help.

The Chairman asked Inspector Scobbie about the advisability of making
citizens arrest, particularly in cases of 'fly tipping'. Inspector
Scobbie replied
that a citizens arrest should only apply for serious crime and would
not be
appropriate for illegal dumping. In such a case, a note of the car
registration,
the exact location and details of what was being dumped should be noted
and
passed to the police to be taken further as appropriate. If someone
could
corroborate the story, a report would be sent to the fiscal. Inspector
Scobbie
advised that a citizens arrest should be an absolutely last option
- it is almost
certainly a much better option to phone the police in every case when
a serious
crime has been witnessed.

There are still occurrences of speeding through Inchbare. The police
are aware
of this and are giving it their attention.

5. Roads Matters

It was noted that the lower part of the Glen Esk road was in better
condition
(less potholes etc.) than the upper part. The lower part is in Aberdeenshire,
whilst the upper part is in Angus.
Cllr. Myles advised the meeting that tenders for the new Dunlappie
bridge
would be going out to tender in July. The anticipated completion date
of the
new bridge is September I October 2001.

6. Stracathro Hospital

Cllr. Leslie-Melville reported that things are looking somewhat
brighter than
they were when the last meeting was held and she is more optimistic
than she
was.
She expects there to be some sort of hospital on the Stracathro
site and hopes
something will be decided later this year - possibly in the
Autumn.
The Health Board would like to close the Coronary Care Unit,
but cannot do so
until a viable alternative is in place.
There was some discussion on the ability of the ambulance service
to cope with
the demands being put on it due to the situation at Stracathro.
Mrs. I. Miller
reported an incident that graphically illustrates the potential
problems. A lady
had slipped and banged her head on a step last weekend in Menmuir.
A local
doctor managed to get to the scene quite quickly and, after
examining her,
called for an ambulance - and then took 75 minutes to get to
Menmuir. This
was considered totally unacceptable by all at the meeting, but
does give an
indication of the potential problems there may be.

7. Glenesk Roadman

Still with Mr. R. Cooke - to follow up with him.

8. Cairngorm Partnership

Our response to the proposal for a Cairngorms National Park,
as drafted by Mr.
Cooke, has been sent to Scottish Natural Heritage.

9. Planning Matters

Mr. D. Murray gave brief details of three applications for extensions
etc. received
in the last month.
There is some concern that we are not getting details of all
planning matters
within our area and we also get details of applications outside
our area. Mr. Mr. D. Murray
Murray to follow this up with the Planning Dept.
Also agreed that Mr. Murray is to forward details, as soon as
received, of any
planning matters in the following areas to the appropriate person
Mr. D. Murray
Menmuir - Mr. M. Johnston
/ Mr. C. Williamson
Careston - Mr. J.
Adamson
Edzell
- Mr. A. de Costa
Stracathro - Mr. H. Campbell Adamson
Glen Esk - Mr. F.
Skene
Glen Lethnot - Mr I. Morrison

10. Correspondence Received

a. Reply from Housing Dept to our letter of 5th April
about 'Double Glazing
for Council houses at Dune Place, Edzell'. Copy of this letter
to be given
Secretary to Mrs. Hickson.
b. Letter asking Inveresk Community Council to convene
and lead a group
discussing the 'Natural Environment' . This was discussed at
a recent
meeting of the Brechin and Area Community Conference. Mr. Simpson
to
Mr. C. Simpson investigate this further.
c. Invitation to attend the AGM of the Angus Access
panel on 6th June,
2001.
d. Invitation to attend a meeting on 'Community
Economic Development in
the Angus Glens' on 16 May, 2001. Mr. D. Murray will be attending
this
Mr. D. Murray meeting and will report back at the next meeting.
e. Acknowledgement, from Scottish Natural Heritage,
of our response to the
proposal to establish a National Park in the Cairngorms area.
(See Item 8
above).
f. Letter from Newtyle arid Eassie CC about the
planned closures of refuse
skips within various communities in Angus. The Secretary to
reply.
Secretaryg. Two copies of Angus Council's Corporate Plan
2000/2003.
h. Updated bus timetables.
i. Minutes of various Angus Council meetings.
j. SEPA View - Spring 2001

k. ScotWays 2001 (Newsletter of The Scottish Rights of
Way and Access Society).

n. Letter from Development Dept. of the Scottish Executive
in reply to letter
we sent about our concerns of the Term Contract for Management and
Maintenance of the Scottish Trunk Road Network'.

o. Notification from the Rural Affairs Dept of the Scottish Executive;
that
consultation period on the draft Land Reform Bill and draft Scottish
Outdoor Access Code. has been extended to the end of June 2001.

p. Access Newsletter April 2001

q. Agenda for Association of Scottish Community Councils AGM
being held
on 9 June 2001, plus Registration form

p. From the Scottish Executive, a Consultation Paper on the Review
of
Woodland Grant Scheme and Farm Woodlands Premium Scheme.

p. Letter from the Scottish Executive notifying us that the Executive
has
published a Consultation Paper on a draft Title Conditions (Scotland)
Bill
which forms part of the Executive's land reform programme as set out
in
the Land Reform Action Plan.

11. From the Regions

Edzell The contractors
undertaking the clearance work in Edzell woods
have damaged the verges. it is hoped they will make good the damage.

Glenesk * Nursery provision for
Tarfside Pre-School Group has now
been satisfactorily resolved. Thanks to Angus Council for this.

* As reported earlier in the Minutes, the condition of that part
of the Glen Esk road in Aberdeenshire is noticeably better
than the top part of the road, which is in Angus.

* The FMD sign at the Rocks of Solitude have now been
removed.

Menmuir Are having a cheese and wine
party at 7.30 on Friday 8th June
2001 in the Menmuir Hall to celebrate the launching of their
Community Website.

Lethnot The Roads dept (or
one of their contractors) have recently been
cutting back the bushes and other shrubs on the verges of roads
in and around the Lethnot area. There was considerable concern
that this was done quite so early in the year as many of the
bushes I shrubs etc. will still be being used by birds to rear their
young. The Secretary was asked to write to the Director of Roads
Secretaryabout these concerns.

Stracathro Nothing to report.

12. Next Meeting

The next meeting will be at 7.3Opm on Monday 11th June 2001 in the Menmuir
Hall.